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Localised flooding hits many areas

Wed, Oct 17, 2012, 01:00

Flooding has been reported in several parts of the country after overnight heavy rain and gale force winds.

Latest updates:

3.55pm: AA Roadwatch says patches of heavy rain are moving through parts of southwest Munster and Connaught also east and north Leinster. It is expected to be windy in many areas with onshore winds reaching gale force in the south and east at times which may cause some coastal flooding.

1.13pm: Rain in the northwest will soon clear, with good sunny spells for a time this afternoon over Ulster and Connacht, Met Éireann have said. Showery conditions over much of Munster and Leinster will gradually become more widespread in the afternoon.

Many of the showers will be heavy and locally thundery, though some areas will stay dry. It will be windy in many areas also, with onshore winds reaching gale force in the south and east at times which may cause some coastal flooding.

12.57pm: Irish Rail has advised there are no services at between Waterford and Kilkenny due to flooding. It said via Twitter that bus transfers remain in place between both. Services are operating between Kilkenny and Dublin Heuston only and a bus transfer is in place between Kilkenny and Waterford, AA Roadwatch stated.

12.21pm: Floodwater has started to recede in New Ross, Co Wexford, reports AA Roadwatch. Traffic has been reduced to one lane on O’Hanrahan Bridge so motorists are now getting by slowly. Mullinavat Road (R704) is now passable with care at Rosbercon.

10.56am: Road conditions have vastly improved following earlier flooding, reports AA Roadwatch. Care is still needed in some areas. High tide is expected again after 1pm in the south and east so motorists are urged to be cautious.

Wexford: O’Hanrahan Bridge in New Ross remains impassable, as the river burst it's bank earlier. There is also flooding on the Mullinavat Road (R704) at Rosbercon. Some vehicles are getting by on this route with care. However, gardaí are advising motorists to avoid it.

Water has receded in Youghal and is no longer coming over the Quay Wall. There are no further reports of excess surface water on the Timoleague/Courtmacsherry Road (R601).

Flooding has subsided in Kinsale and there are no further problems on the Pier Road near the Lwr O'Connell Street junction or at Dunderrow.

09.34am: Flooding has subsided at Beresford Place in Dublin city centre, says AA Roadwatch. There is excess surface water on several routes in Clondalkin but no roads are impassable. Outbound on the Long Mile Road excess surface water has subsided at the Slievebloom Park and after Drimnagh.

Flooding is reported on the Kylemore Road at the Ballyfermot Road Junction. Reports of flooding on Knockmaroon Hill. Reports of flooding on the Willbrook Road at the Whitechurch Road Junction.

9.30am: O’Hanrahan Bridge in New Ross, Co Wexford is completely impassable as the river has burst its bank, according to AA Roadwatch. There is flooding on the Mullinavat Road (R704) at Rosbercon.

8.48am: A report on Twitter states parts of Cork city centre are under "about two feet of water - South Mall workers unable to pass". Another says Belvelly Bridge in Cobh is impassable from Ticknock side, while another says in Midleton, the Bailick Road is impassable in both directions.

Slieve Bloom Park at Drimnagh is impassable. Long Mile Road at junction of N7 completely flooded. At M1 at Lusk south of junction 5 northbound there are cars stuck in the flooding. The Strawberry Beds are closed from Larachon to Tinkers Hill.

Gardaí have urged all road users to exercise extreme caution, drive with lights on and leave plenty of time to reach their destination.

7.50am: Rain has eased in Dublin. Gardaí are asking motorists to avoid the Strawberry Beds due to flooding. The road between Laraghcon Bridge to Tinkers Hill is closed due to flooding, according to AA Roadwatch. Drivers are asked to take care in Firhouse due to excess surface water in the area.

Flooding has subsided on the N11/Stillorgan Road after Fosters Avenue, in the left turn lane from Ailesbury Road onto the N11, on Merrion Road at the Nutley Lane and on Northumberland Road. On the N4/Lucan Road there is excess surface water at Palmerstown.

Flooding is a problem at Beresford Place in the city centre. There is excess surface water on several routes in Clondalkin, but roads are passable.

Outbound on the Long Mile Road excess surface water is a problem, particularly at Slievebloom Park.

7.44am: In Cork, Morrisons Island, Lavitts Quay, Union Quay, Father Matthew Quay are impassable due to flooding, an AA Roadwatch report said. There is excess surface water on the N40 South Ring Road eastbound at the Togher exit.

Water is coming over the Quay Wall in Youghal. Extreme care is advised. There is excess surface water on the Timoleague/Courtmacsherry Road (R601). Flooding is causing difficulty on the Pier Road in Kinsale near the Lower O'Connell Street junction.

7.36am: Full Dart services resume after earlier disruption.

Meanwhile, tidal and low pressure factors are contributing to a forecast for southeasterly gales and coastal high seas.

There has been widespread heavy rain this morning in Leinster, Connacht and Ulster, but brighter, showery conditions are forecast to spread north from Munster later today. Many of the showers are set to become heavy and locally thundery as the day goes on, Met Éireann said. Onshore winds will reach gale force in the south and east at times and may cause some coastal flooding.

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Dart services were only operating this morning between Greystones/Bray and Dalkey and between Howth/Malahide and Dún Laoghaire due to flooding, AA Roadwatch reported.

It also reported flooding on the N25 Wexford/New Ross Road at Bergerin Hill and excess surface water on the N81/Blessington Road both ways between Brittas and Tallaght, and further along on the N81/Tallaght Bypass inbound. Just one lane was passable between the Belgard Road junction and the M50. Outbound, both lanes were just about passable with care. There was also excess surface water in Bray at the Kilcroney Roundabout.

Dublin City Council has acted on several precautionary measures as Met Éireann warned there would be three very high tides between 1am this morning and 1.30am tomorrow. The council warned these would be “above the City Council’s tide watch level and just below the council’s tide alert level”.

The council has closed the Liffey Boardwalk defences and car parks at Sandymount promenade and at Clontarf, while flood defences on the River Tolka were being put in place and drainage crews were being mobilised.

Meanwhile, flood gates on the River Dodder “have already been closed”, the council stated. It warned there could be very localised “wave overtopping” in parts of Sandymount and Clontarf, and said it had maintained a stock of sandbags at various locations “for strategic purposes” which would be deployed by drainage staff if needed.

Met Éireann advised motorists to take extra care on the roads this evening, and only to drive through standing water if a driver knew it was not too deep for the vehicle. A statement asked drivers to "take care on open or exposed roads in windy conditions, particularly in high-sided vehicles”, and to be extra careful in the vicinity of pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

There were also reports of flooding last night on the N25 Cork/Waterford Road at Carrolls Cross, west of Kilmeaden, according to AA Roadwatch.

Meanwhile, lane closures were to operate on the M4 Dublin/Sligo Road from Junction 5 at Leixlip to J8 at Kilcock from 8am to 6pm today. Delays were to be expected.

The N6/Athlone Bypass had been reduced to one lane eastbound between J12 Roscommon and J13 Athlone West for emergency works until later today, AA Roadwatch added.

In Limerick, the Clonmacken Link Road is to be closed southbound (towards the Limerick Tunnel) from 7.30am to 6pm today. Those hauling abnormal loads should contact tunnel operations.

In Waterford, works are taking place on the Cork Road (R680) between Ballybeg Drive and Waterford Institute of Technology from 7:30am to 6pm daily until late in the month.

The forecast for tonight is for heavy showers early in the evening which will retreat to coastal districts later. Some clear spells will develop, but it will still be windy in many coastal areas.

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